Berri Pessimistic on Adoption of New Electoral Law
Speaker Nabih Berri expressed pessimism on Saturday regarding the new electoral law, considering that the rival parties will not reach consensus over the matter.
“I expect that the 1960 electoral law to remain for a long time,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.
He expressed belief that the electoral law will not be adopted ahead of the election of a new head of state nor after it.
The presidential seat has been vacant since President Michel Suleiman's term ended on May 25.
The speaker, who is the head of the AMAL movement, pointed out that the expected dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement could present a new chance to adopt an electoral law.
The newspaper said that the agenda of the dialogue between the two parties, which is expected to kick off on December 29, will also included discussions on the thorny elections law.
On Tuesday, the Lebanese Forces suspended its participation in the electoral subcommittee until a parliamentary session is scheduled to vote on a new draft-law.
The subcommittee is discussing several proposals, the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, a draft-law that divides Lebanon into 50 districts based on a winner-takes-all system, in addition to the hybrid suggestion made by Berri.
The 11-member parliamentary subcommittee tasked with discussing several electoral law proposal kicked off meetings recently, in light of the extension of the parliament’s tenure, in an attempt to reach consensus over a hybrid electoral draft-law.
The March 8 and 14 alliances are represented in the committee, which was granted a one-month ultimatum by Berri to reach consensus.
The new parliament should approve a new electoral law and issue a decree that shortens its term after it was extended to 2017.
The parliament extended its term in November until June 2017 despite the boycott of the Free Patriotic Movement and Kataeb MPs.
Most blocs have announced their rejection to the 1960 electoral law that is based on a winner-takes-all system. It was used in the 2009 elections.
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